Abilify and Tremors: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Tug...
• October 1, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on Abilify for 3 weeks total. On the 3rd day on the drug, I started to feel shaky, like something had to be moving at all times. I figured it would just go away, so when I got no sleep that night from this, I thought tomorrow would be better. But on day 4, it was worse, so I called my doctor, and he told me to take a half a pill, and by this time, my legs were visibly shaking out of control. I would have to push on them to make them stop. On days 5, 6, and 7, I had the same thing: shaky and no sleep. Everything hurt from the shaking. It was so bad at one point I broke down in the middle of my in-laws' home. That day, my doctor took me off this medicine, and 2 days later, all the shaking was gone."

• Tug...
• October 1, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on Abilify for 3 weeks total. On the 3rd day on the drug, I started to feel shaky, like something had to be moving at all times. I figured it would just go away, so when I got no sleep that night from this, I thought tomorrow would be better. But on day 4, it was worse, so I called my doctor, and he told me to take a half a pill, and by this time, my legs were visibly shaking out of control. I would have to push on them to make them stop. On days 5, 6, and 7, I had the same thing: shaky and no sleep. Everything hurt from the shaking. It was so bad at one point I broke down in the middle of my in-laws' home. That day, my doctor took me off this medicine, and 2 days later, all the shaking was gone."

• Anonymous
• August 4, 2011

For Depression "When I first began taking Abilify, it worked well for me along with my Zoloft. However, the side effect of dizziness was so great that I could not walk without a cane, nor could I safely drive a car. Also, I got the jitters so badly it was difficult to go anywhere in public. My doctor finally took me off the medicine, and all the side effects have disappeared, and I am doing well once again."

• ser...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I took Abilify for a month, and it was not for me. It first made me happy, but it made me too happy! I became manic again and couldn't settle myself down. I would be up at 2 a.m. working out or cleaning. Also, the side effects were awful! My hands never stopped shaking, and people began to think I had a drinking problem due to the way they were shaking. It also made me gain 5 lbs within a week. Not a fan."

• Cds...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I tried Abilify for certain health conditions, mainly for what the doctor suggested: bipolar disorder. The first week was great. I felt my mind was more stable and not racing, however, by week three, I felt horrible. I had unbelievable chest pressure, shaky, chills, lightheaded, flu-like symptoms, plus anxiety. I would not give this drug to my worst enemy. There has to be a better route. I have a family history of heart problems, so maybe that's why. I hope you find help with your struggle also."

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on this medication for a few years, and it worked wonders on my mood. I can get moody very quickly, and while taking this medication, mood swings were rare. Unfortunately, I began suffering from body tremors and had to stop taking it. My hands would shake uncontrollably, and my head actually shook back and forth. I didn't notice it, but when I would talk to my sister, she would tell me that my head was rapidly shaking back and forth. That is why I rated this a 9 instead of a 10."

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on this medication for a few years, and it worked wonders on my mood. I can get moody very quickly, and while taking this medication, mood swings were rare. Unfortunately, I began suffering from body tremors and had to stop taking it. My hands would shake uncontrollably, and my head actually shook back and forth. I didn't notice it, but when I would talk to my sister, she would tell me that my head was rapidly shaking back and forth. That is why I rated this a 9 instead of a 10."

• SC ...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 22, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "I prescribed Abilify adjunct 60 mg Cymbalta I had been on for years during a very stressful and depressing time in my life. It was GREAT! I was going to have to go into the hospital, but it worked within 5 days!!! I was recommending it to everyone in my family! After being on it for 6 months and gaining about 20 lbs., I developed a profound tremor or tic in my hand, and I couldn't make it stop - not even at night, so I couldn't sleep. They took me off the Abilify, and within 4 weeks, the tremor stopped completely. I also lost 25 lbs. without even trying since being off of it. Recently, I noticed increased depression and anxiety, so I am trying other meds now to get back on track. So far, Deplin & Latuda have not worked. Just started Rexulti...."

• Mer...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I started Abilify because my bipolar disorder drug cocktail became less effective. Abilify was new on the market. It lifted my mood considerably, I felt great. And without any bad side effects, I thought. After about 6 weeks, I developed hand tremors. It got worse. My psychopharmacologist sent me to a neurologist, who began treating me for a kind of tremor that's inherited. He did not believe it was due to Abilify, which now has a side effect listed as 'muscle movements that could become permanent.' Naturally, I stopped taking Abilify. So either the neurologist is right, and Abilify activated the tremor, or I developed the permanent muscle movement side effect. Either way, I now have to take an anti-tremor drug."

• KAT...
• April 12, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "1st day on Abilify seemed like I had energy. 2-3 days later, insomnia set in big time. Even tried taking 2 Lunesta... didn't work. 2 weeks later, I was in the ER from side effects. Tremors, not comfortable in my own skin, slurred speech, couldn't focus or concentrate. Spouse thought I'd had a stroke. They gave me Ativan and Benadryl. I got a new psychiatrist after that. Just starting on Lithium now. We'll see."

• Bip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Was put on Abilify to control hypomania. I'm very, very sensitive to pretty much every medication. Initially, I had a stomach ache that only lasted one night and some tiredness the first two days. However... after this, I had severe hypomania and restlessness that just didn't go away. It wasn't akathisia, though. Unfortunately, I can't reach the mood stabilizing effect - being at least 10 mg - since I can't go any higher than 1.25 mg without having side effects such as emotional numbness, numbness of my face, twitching, increased eye blinking - which, of course, scares me since there is a risk of Tardive Dyskinesia. It's definitely a very powerful drug. But it really did help my depression and anxiety, just didn't help control my hypomania. LOL"

• wha...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 6, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This didn't help me and is very, very hard to discontinue. It made me psychotic, and tremors were really bad after my doctor tried stopping it. I still am just on it to avoid the psychosis that follows stopping (right thing to do)."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I have only been taking Abilify (along with my Prozac) for 2 days. So far, I have had many ups and downs. I wake up feeling shaky and out of sorts. I have trouble breathing and black out a lot. (I black out anyway, but it has increased). Then I go through a period of anxiety and sweating. A little while later, I go through severe nausea and then extreme fatigue. Between each phase, I feel pretty great, but it's short-lived. I'm going to give it more time, but that's the initial reaction for me."

• Sca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2021

For Depression "I was on Abilify for a grand total of two days. I'm sure it's a great drug for some, but I started twitching and having lots of muscle spasms randomly. I was on 2.5 mg and would just twitch so much it drove me crazy. I couldn't sit still and was restless and unable to sleep."

• ntc...
• May 7, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Abilify for about 3 weeks, along with trazodone for insomnia and anxiety, and tapering off Paxil. I've noticed a significant improvement in controlling my emotions, and for the most part, I am a lot calmer. Suffered some side effects such as restlessness and the shakes, but overall the positives outweigh the negatives. I started off on a very low 2.5 mg dose but expect to have this raised at my next appointment with the doctor."

• leo...
• September 26, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "So far, the best medication for bipolar disorder I've taken. I started out successfully at 20 mg for a year. Then I developed twitching on the left side of my body. My doctor reduced my dosage to 2 mg a day and put me on Artane. I am glad I found this medicine because I don't have to take it daily, and I no longer feel as if I'm going insane. Helpful, but you really need to pay attention to the way your body handles it. My twitching has gone away, thankfully."

• Clo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 28, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug destroyed my life. My sexual urges became insatiable, and my drug use went supersonic. After the dust settled, my marriage was destroyed, I’m broke, and my credit rating went from 750 to 400. I’ve lost all credibility with my family and friends. I started going sideways almost immediately after I started taking Abilify. I had trembling hands, I cut myself, and was very irritable. I became a different person."

• Msl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2022

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I am on the Aristada shot, and I get breakthrough symptoms after 3 weeks. My psychiatrist prescribed Abilify 5 mg tablets for my breakthrough symptoms, and my only regret is not getting it sooner. I had a trauma response today, and I took one for breakthrough symptoms, and it provides a buffer to the reaction I'm experiencing. And it stopped my shaking from the adrenaline I had as a result of my trauma response. Hands down, Abilify 5 mg is a magic bullet."

• twe...
• September 2, 2013

For Depression "It worked great, but after being on it for 5 years or so, I got the side effect of twitching. My feet would not stop twitching, they were moving on their own. I asked my doctor to please take me off."

• Anonymous
• January 22, 2011

For Depression "I have not felt this happy and normal in a very long time. Do feel shaky about once a day, but worth it to feel happy again."

• Bry...
• June 17, 2011

For Depression "Side effects were jitters, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, and restless legs."

• Ari...
• April 2, 2016

For Agitated State "I'm taking Abilify with an antidepressant to stabilize my mood. It just makes me shaky and agitated. Before Abilify, my mood would be up and down. But now I'm just down and agitated all the time."

• Anonymous
• March 5, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I took Abilify for a year for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Towards the end, I was getting Parkinsonian symptoms and had to stop taking it. I was also having hand tremors and feet tremors."

• tmo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Within 1 hr of taking, starting shaking uncontrollably, threw up, and couldn't sleep."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2014

For Major Depressive Disorder "I'm not so sure if the medicine was bad, it just didn't work for me. I began to develop muscle twitching."